Method of packaging cuboid containers



A riE 25, 1967 J. c. GUNYOU 3,315,435

METHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOK JOHN C. GUNVOU BY ATTomvEys April 25, 1967 J. c. GUNYOUMETHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5,1963 INVENTOR JOHN C. GUNYOU ATTORNEYS A rii 25, 1967 J. c. GUNYOUMETHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 5,1963 JOHN C. GUNYOU ATTORNEYS I m T N E V m A ril 25, 1967 J. c. GUNYOUMETHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 3,1963 INVENTOK JOHN CGUNYOU @456 g 1 ATTORNEYS Aprii 25, 1967 J. c.GUNYOU METHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct.5, 1963 Z o 5 w 5 3 3 'NVENTOR JOHN C. GUNYOU ATTORNEYS April 25, 1967J. c. GUNYOU 3,315,435

METHOD OF PACKAGING CUBOID CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 5, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet6 as 50b 9 59 INVENTO JOHN C. GUNYOU ATTORNEYS United States PatentOfiFice 3,315,435 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 3,315,435 METHOD OF PACKAGINGCUBOID CONTAINERS John C. Gunyou, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada, assignorto Signet Packaging Enterprises Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, acorporation Filed Oct. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 313,667 Claims priority,application Great Britain, Oct. 23, 1962, 40,167/ 62 5 Claims. (Cl.5324) This application is a continuation-in-part of my applicationSerial No. 92,493, filed Mar. 1, 1961, and now Patent No. 3,227,354.

The invention disclosed and claimed herein relates to a method andapparatus for packaging cuboid containers, and packages of suchcontainers.

In modern packaging many products are packed in individual cuboidcontainers, a number of which are then assembled into a stack and arewrapped with an outer protective material for shipment. The containersare usually made of thin sheets of cardboard, fibre board, metal,plastics or like material. These sheets are sufficiently rigid andstrong to retain the contents under normal use but are so resilient orflexible that they will bulge and twist or otherwise get out of shape,and if subjected to vibration, shock, jarring or compressive force, as,for instance, during shipment, will break and spill the contents. Thisis particularly so if the contents are of a fluid nature such asgranular detergent, flour, sugar, etc. An example of such containers isthe ordinary cardboard carton in which so many products are packed.

It is therefore necessary to have a strong shipping container or wrapperfor a stack of such containers to prevent damage during shipment anddouble faced corrugated paper is commonly used. It is bulky andcomparatively expensive and difiicult to apply. According to thisinvention a stack of filled cuboid containers can be wrapped forshipment in a much lighter wrapper. For example a stack which hasheretofore been wrapped with double faced corrugated cardboard could bewrapped with single faced corrugated paper or flat surfaced cardboard.

It has been found that if stacks of uniform containers are kept undercompression during the wrapping operation the complete package ofcontainers will have great strength and can be wrapped for shipping witha wrapper of less strength than would otherwise be required.

The underlying principle is rather difiicult to express. It may be said,however, that the application of pressure to the stack forms a compactrigid structure of less dimension than the uncompressed stack. In thecase of cartons containing fluid material there is a tendency for thelower part of the carton to bulge. The application of pressureeliminates the bulges and causes the sides of the cartons to lie closelyadjacent one another over their whole faces. When articles are looselypackaged there is a cannonball effect when they are jarred. The loosecontents gain momentum and may break the outer wra per. Wrapping undercompression will reduce or eliminate this elfect.

This invention takes advantage of the above mentioned principle andproposes a method and means whereby pressure may be applied on all sidesof a loosely arranged stack of cartons substantially simultaneously, sothat they will be set up or squared up and compressed so that thecompressed stack is of smaller volume than the uncompressed stack.

A separate sheet of wrapping material may be used for each side of thestack. This sheet will be pre-cut to approximately the area of thecompressed side of the stack to which it is to be applied. One or twowrappers may be pre-creased to form six panels approximately the area ofthe sides of the stack after they have been compressed.

A preferred wrapper is made of single faced corrugated paper with thecorrugations inside. Preferably two rectangular sheets will be usedtransversely creased so that they will fold into a channel shape. One ofsuch wrappers would enclose the top and ends of the stack and the otherenclose the bottom and sides of the stack. The wrapper may be T-shapedin plan, being formed of two channel shaped sections, the end of onebeing secured to the side edge of the other intermediate its ends.

The sections are joined or butt jointed so that the interior surfaces,at least, of the walls of the shipping container are regular andunbroken, there being no overlaps so that such walls are capable ofachieving a continuous fit around the containers which they enclose.This in turn is thought to lead to a reduction in the cannon-ball effectcaused by the shifting of containers within the package and consequentdamage.

The amount of compression required depends on the volume of the stack,the strength of the individual containers and their contents. It must besufiicient to true up the stack and compress it into approximately thesmallest possible volume without rupturing the individual containers.The natural tendency of the individual containers to spread or bulgewill create a certain amount of outward pressure which when restrainedby the wrapper will put the stack under compression.

The first step in the wrapping method is to substantially simultaneouslygradually apply pressure to all six sides of the stack. This may be donein various ways. Pressure can conveniently be applied by pressure platesof substantially the same area as a side of the stack. Pistons havingfiat plates or heads secured to their free ends may be used to press theexposed sides of a stack which has been placed in a form or against anopposing piston which may be moved simultaneously into contact with theopposite side of the stack to press the cartons into close contact asdescribed above.

Pressure is applied in three directions, normal to the top and bottomfaces of the stack, normal to the ends of the stack and normal to thesides of the stack. Once the stack is put under simultaneous pressurecompression may be maintained even though pressure in one direction iswithdrawn. The pressure in the other directions will maintain the stackin compressed condition in those directions and the friction of theindividual cartons in the stack will maintain the pressure in thedirection in which pressure has been withdrawn. Keeping the pressure onthe other sides, pressure may be released on one side to permit theapplication of a wrapper. Pressure can then be re-applied on that sideand the wrapper folded over another side or sides, releasing thepressure to permit this to be done and re-applying the pressureimmediately after. The adjacent edges of the applied wrapper may beglued together while pressure is maintained. Pressure will be maintainedlong enough to permit the glue to set after which the wrapper willretain the stack under compression.

The wrapper may be placed on-one or more side of the stack prior to theapplication of pressure.

If the wrapper is to be aplied before the application of pressure, partsmay, for instance, be placed over one surface of the stack which mayrest upon a table or other support. Another part of the wrapper may beplaced beneath the stack between the lower face of the stack and thetable. Preferably, if the stack is not a cube, the wrapper will beapplied to the major surfaces. Pressure may then be appliedsimultaneously on all six sides of the stack until the stack iscompressed. Maintaining the pressure on the other sides, pressure on twoopposite sides may be removed and the wrapper folded over these sidesalong the pre-creased line of fold. Pressure can then be applied to thefolded over sides of the wrapper pressing them against the sides of thestack. The pressure on the other sides may be removed and the panels orflaps of the wrapper turned up over adjoining sides of the stack andthen pressed against the stack. ,The edges of each wrapper may then beglued to the edges of the adjacent wrapper. For this purpose there maybe a glue flap on the edges of the wrappers or adhesive tape may bestuck on the outside of the wrappers along the adjoining edges to holdthem together.

The means for operating the pressure plates may be various and wellknown in the art of packaging and wrapping. Instead of having pistonswhich move in and out with the surface of the plate parallel to the'sides of the stack, plates may be provided for simultaneously foldingthe flaps of the Wrapper over the stack and applying pressure tomaintain the stack under compression. In this method the blank may beT-shaped and pre-creased to form panels or flaps adapted to be foldedaround the sides or ends of the stack. A form will be providedcomprising a base and a vertical back wall at right angles to the base.The wrapper can be placed with the cross arm on the base and the stemextending upwardly at right angles to the cross arm against the backwall. The stack is then placed on the base on top of the wrapper. Flatplates may press against the other four sides to compress the stackagainst the form. Other plates may then be brought in substantiallyparallel to the first plates and to the surfaces of the stack and willengage the flaps of the wrapper and press them onto a surface of thestack while the original pressure plates are being withdrawn. After allthe panels have been folded and pressed down onto the stack they may beglued together to hold the stack under compression.

In the method and means hereafter particularly described andillustrated, the stack is wrapped without releasing the pressure on thesides of the stack.

An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter particularly described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURES 1 to 8 inclusive are diagrammatic views of the apparatus showingthe various steps ofthe wrapping method;

FIGURE 9 is a view of a complete wrapped package of cartons;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a wrapper;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectign through the upper carriage of thewrapping apparatus showing the package in its final position beforebeing discharged;

FIGURE 12 is a horizontal section on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 12A is an enlarged fragmentary section of a corner of the packageshown in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 13 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the package ofcartons prior to closure of the top flap and in dotted lines theposition of feed cradle and the discharge cradle prior to the feedingoperation and during the discharge operation;

FIGURE 13A is an enlarged fragmentary section of a corner of the packageshown in FIG. 13; and

FIGURE 14 is a transverse section along the line 14-14 of FIGURE 13.

In the drawings, corresponding reference numerals refer to correspondingparts.

For the sake of simplicity, the air lines, valves and timing mechanismused for operating the machine and coordinating the movement of it arenot shown. They do not form part of this invention and can readily bedevised by anyone skilled in the art.

In the specification and claims package means a wrapper enclosing astack of filled containers. A

stack is formed by two or more containers arranged side by side. Wrappermeans the covering for the package in assembled or unassembledcondition. The wrapper is made up from a blank or a plurality of blankscut and creased to a predetermined size. A panel is the portion of awrapper or blank which covers a single side of a stack of containers. Ifthe wrapper comprises three panels the centre panel is the main paneland the outer panels are flap panels. If the Wrapper is T-shaped thecentral panel of the cross member is the main panel and the outer panelsare flap panels and likewise with the stern member. Extensions frompanels for adhering the edge of the panel to the edge of an adjacentpanel are sealing flaps or glue flaps or adhesive flaps. The wrapper ismade of packaging stock, i.e., sheets of strong cardboard, fibre board,metal, plastics or the like, preferably single face corrugate. If thewrapper or blank is not made of a single sheet of packaging stock it isformed of sections each section comprising one or more panels. Thecontainers are made of thin sheets of cardboard, metal, plastics, orlike stiff bendable material usually lighter and less strong than thematerial of which the wrapper is made. The assembled wrapper may becalled a shipping container but will generally be referred to as thewrapper or the assembled wrapper to avoid confusion with the containerswhich are enclosed in the wrapper.

Reference will first be primarily to FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 14 withoccasional reference to other views. The machine comprises a rectangularmain frame having four upright frame members 20, 21, 22 and 23,longitudinal frame members 24 and 25 and transverse frame members 26, 27and 28, all of angle steel.

Supported above the main frame is an upper frame (FIGS. ll, 13 and 14)formed of two longitudinal members 29 and 30 and two transverse members31 and 32, all U-shaped in cross section. Transverse member 32 has beencut away in all the figures except FIG. 8, where it is showndiagrammatically and broken away.

This upper frame is supported on four .pistons 34, 34, 34 and 3 4 inpower cylinders 35, 35, 35 and 35 secured to the vertical corner membersof the frame. By means of the power cylinders and pistons the upperframe may be raised and lowered to and from the position shown in fulllines in FIG. 13 to the position shown in phantom lines.

Horizontally supported and longitudinally slidable on the upper frame isa carriage having two longitudinal U- shaped frame members 4 0, 41 whichslide in the U-shaped members 29 and 30 of the upper frame, andtransverse frame members 42, 43 and 44. This carriage is slidablelongitudinally in the longitudinal U-shaped members 29 and 30 of theupper frame. The carriage is divided into two relatively movable partsseparable by means of a piston 45 mounted in a horizontally arrangedpower cylinder 46 secured to the transverse frame member 4 2 of thecarriage. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 13, the longitudinal frame members and41 of the carriage are divided into two parts. What may for conveniencebe called the rear part of the carriage is formed by transverse member42 and the rear parts of longitudinal members 40 and 41. Rear part oflongitudinal member 41 is numbered 41a in FIGS. 8 and 13. Rear part oflongitudinal member 40 is not shown in the drawings but is the same asrear part 4151. What may be called the front or forward part is formedof transverse frame members 43 and 4 4, and the forward parts oflongitudinal members 40 and 41. The forward sliding movement of the rearpart of the carriage in the upper frame is limited by spring stop Sshown in FIG. 8. The forward end of the carriage is normally held in itsforward position by coil spring 47, secured at one end to the carriageand at the other end to the cross member 31 of the upper frame as shownin FIGS. 5 and 8 and 13.

Piston 45 may be actuated to pull the forward portion of the carriageback to join the rear portion as shown in FIGS. 6, 6A, and 7. Thepurpose of this and more details of the construction and operation ofthe carriage will be described hereinafter.

Having now described in a general way the framework and parts of themachine, the various steps of the method and the positions of theapparatus will be described in sequence having particular reference toFIGS. 1 to 8 inclusive. These figures are diagrammatic and many partshave been omitted or cut away to show the sequence of operations.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing two cradles 50 and 51, other partsand mechanisms being omitted or broken away for the sake of clarity.Cradles 50 and 51 are in the positions shown in phantom lines in FIG.13, except that plates 50a and 50b of cradle 50 are in package ejectingposition rather than package compressing position. Also shown arepositioning lugs 96, 96' secured to longitudinal frame members 2 9 and30. See also FIG. 12.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 10 the wrapper 48comprises a transverse section 48a and a longitudinal section 48b.Section 48b is placed on cradle 51 and section 48a is supported betweenplate 50b and positioning lugs 96 and 96. The lower edge of section 48ais held parallel to and adjacent the rear edge of section 48b. The twosections have sealing flaps or glue flaps to glue them together to forma T-shape. Preferably the wrapper is formed of single faced corrugatedpaper board or fibre board with corrugations on the inside runningtransversely on the cross bar of the T and longitudinally on the stem ofthe T. The wrapper is cut and/ or precreased to form panelscorresponding in size to the sides of the package to be wrapped whenunder compression. Glue flaps extend from the edges of the wrapper forsealing the package. The wrapper may, however, be formed of separatepre-cut panels or partly of separate panels and partly of pre-creasedpanels. Instead of glued flaps for connecting the panels, separate gluestrips may be applied to the corners of the assembled wrapper.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a stack ST of 16 cuboid containersplaced on the wrapper section 48b ready for wrapping and 3A is a sideelevation of FIG. 3. The stack is supported on wrapper section 48b bythe relatively fixed under plate 51a and the movable front plate 51b ofthe cradle 51. For convenience the side of the stack which is supportedby plate 51a may be referred to as the underside; the opposite side, theupper side; the side supported by plate 51b, the front side; theopposite side, the rear side; and the other two sides the left and rightsides respectively. However, the orientation is not important. The abovenomenclature is only for the purpose of describing the relativepositions of the different sides.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view and 4A is a side View showing the cradle 51as having been rocked up so that the under plates 50a and 51a of thecradles are substantially horizontal and the plates 50b and 51b of thecradle are substantially vertical. Plates 50a and 51a are on the sameplane with their adjoining edges close together so that the stack ST mayhe slid from one to the other. This is done by means of cylinder 68 andpiston 69 and cylinder 52 and piston 53 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14pivoted on the floor or base of the machine and pivoted to bell cranklevers 76 and 54 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 which support the cradles 50and 51 respectively. In FIG. 13 the bell crank lever 70 and cradle 50are shown in phantom lines in their lower position with the platesarranged for ejecting the package and in full lines in their upper orpressure applying position; and the bell crank lever 54- and cradle 51are shown in phantom lines in their lower or filling position and infull lines in their upper or pressure applying position.

Longitudinal frame members 59, 59 (shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) supportanother cylinder 55 shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 which actuate piston 56secured to a plate 57 adapted to press the stack of cartons ST againstfixed plate 60. See FIGS. 12 and 14.

The upper frame which is shown in upper position in phantom lines and inlower position in full lines in FIG. 13 as already described, issupported on four pistons 34, 34, 34 and 34 actuated by air cylinders35,- 35, 35 and 35. Secured to the upper frame are two plates 61 and 62slightly spaced apart, so that when the upper frame is lowered bypistons 34 the upwardly projecting flap of the wrapper 48b will extendbetween the plates, and the plate 61 will apply pressure to the stack ofcartons, pressing them down against the lower plate 51a of the cradle asshown in FIG. 5. Guide means (not shown) may be provided to guide theflap to the space between plates 61 and 62.

Also shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 13 is a cylinder 63 and piston 64 which issupporting a spring mounted roller 65 for a purpose which will bedescribed later.

The plate 51b of cradle 51 is supported by piston 66 actuated bycylinder 67 on rocker arm 54 and when cradle 51 is swung up to thehorizontal position shown in FIGS. 4 and 13 this piston will move thevertical plate 51b of the cradle 51 contrary to the direction ofmovement of the vertical plate 50b of cradle 50.

In FIG. 4 the cradle 50 is also shown in the elevated position shown infull lines in FIG. 13, having been swung up into that position by meansof a cylinder 68 pivoted to the floor or the frame and a piston 69pivoted to hell crank lever 70. Cylinder 95 is secured to lever 70 andactuates a piston 94 which is secured to plate 50b of cradle 50. InFIGS. 4, 4A and 6, 6A and 6B plate 50b has been moved forward. It willbe observed that section 48a of the wrapper is supported by positioninglugs 96, 96' and plate 50b so that the main panel is in register withthe opposed side of the stack ST. Cradle 50 and cradle 51 are rocked upsimultaneously to the position shown in FIG. 4, whereby they engagewrappers 48a and 48b and press them against the sides of the stack asshown in FIG. 4A. Plate 51b is at its withdrawn position and engages astop which holds it steady. Plate 50b is at its advanced position underpressure and the relative positions of plates 50b and 51b is such thatplate 50b presses the stack against plate 51b.

In FIG. 5 the pistons by means of a valve arrangement (not shown) havebeen actuated to simultaneously apply pressure in six directions .on thestack of cartons. Cradles 50 and 51 have been rocked up to the positionwhere vertical plate 50b compresses the stack against plate 51b ofcradle 51. Plate 57 is pressed inwardly by piston 56 to compress thestack against the fixed plate 60. Plate 61 presses downwardly on top ofthe stack of cartons to compress it against the lower plate 51a ofcradle 51. Thus the stack is under pressure from all sides. In this way,the space between the originally loosely packed cartons is taken up andsagging or bulging of the cartons is reduced so that the faces of thecartons are all in close contact.

The main panel of wrapper 48b is pressed between vertical plate 51b andthe stack of cartons and the forward flap panel of the wrapper 48b ispressed between the lower plate 51a of the rear cradle and the underside of the stack. One flap panel of wrapper 48b is standing uprightbetween plates 61 and 62. The main panel of wrapper 48a is compressedbetween the stack and vertical plate 50b. The end or flap panels ofwrapper section 48a extend outwardly on each side of the plate 50b. Asalready explained the wrapper is cut so that it comprises six panelscoinciding in size with the six sides of the stack of cartons ST whenunder compression and is provided with fold lines permitting the wrapperto be readily folded along the edges of the stack of cartons.

At this stage, if the wrapper section 48a has not been previouslysecured to the wrapper section 48b along the line of contact, this maybe done by adhering sealing flap 48c on the end of wrapper section 48bto the side of wrapper setcion 48a. Sealing flap 48c consists of anextension of the facing of the corrugated material of section 48b havingapplied to its upper face a pressure sensitive adhesive. However, anysuitable kind of adhesive may be used or the flaps may be dry andadhesive applied thereto at the time of adhesion. When the verticalplate 50b of cradle 50 presses against the wrapper, the sealing flap 48cengaged by the lower edge of plate 50b and pressed against the edge ofwrapper section 48a. to secure the sealing flap to the Wrapper. Seeparticularly FIG. 4A. Spring fingers 71, 71 on the lower plate 51a ofcradle 51 prevent sealing flap 48c from being bent downwardly and holdit up so that it is engaged by the plate 50b as it moves in towards thestack of packages.

The piston 45 is now withdrawn into cylinder 46 drawing the front partof carriage back against the spring 47 from the position shown in FIG. 5to the position shown in FIG. 6. The stop S shown in FIG. 8 prevents therear part of the carriage from moving forward. Plates 61 and 62 mountedon the carriage are moved back causing the upper flap of the wrappersection 481) to be pressed down on top of the package 46 as shown inFIGS. 5A and 6 while at the same time maintaining pressure on thepackage. The plate 62 is located slightly higher than the plate 61 byabout the thickness of the wrapping material. In FIG. 6 this operationhas been completed. The piston 64 then forces roller 65 downwardly asshown in FIG. 6A pressing pressure sensitive adhesive flap 48d over theedge of wrapper 48a and sealing it. Roller 65 is spring pressed towardsthe package, as by mounting on a torsion bar whereby it is pressedagainst the package as particularly shown in FIGURE 6A. Thus the wrapperis sealed around the upper and lower and front and back sides of thepackage holding it under compression in the vertical directon.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 6A, 7, 8, 11 and 13 the cylinder 63 is secured to abracket 97 secured at each end to longitudinal carriage frame members98, 98 shown in FIG. 14. The frame members 98, 98' extend betweentransverse carriage frame members 43 and 44 and extend below them tosupport the folding plates 61 and 62.

The package is then pushed back between fixed vertical guide plates 72and 73 as shown in FIG. 6B. These plates are supported on the main frameby transverse members 99, 99'. These plates are spaced the width of thepackage under compression so as to maintain the package undercompression. To push the package back between these guide plates 72, 73,pressure is applied to piston 66 greater than the pressure on piston 94.As pressure plate 511) advances, pressure plate 50b recedes and thepackage then slides back onto plate 50a between plates 72 and 73.Pressure on plate 57 may, if necessary, be slightly relieved as thepackage is pushed back, maintaining suflicient side pressure to keep thestack under compression; but in practice this has not been found to benecessary.

As the package is pushed back, pressure plate 62 on the carriage whichis pressing on the upper side of the package as shown in FIGS. 6, 6A, 6Band 11 moves with the package to position in FIG. 7, maintaining itsdownward pressure and keeping the package under compression to theposition shown in phantom lines in FIG. 7 and in FIG. 11. The stops Sshown in FIG. 8 are spring tongues secured to the channel formed byupper frame members 29 and 30 and projecting rearwardly to prevent rearframe members 41a of the carriage from moving forwardly past that point.However, when the package is pushed back the friction between the plate62 and the package causes the whole carriage to move back towards therear end of the upper frame as shown in FIG. 7. The spring stop S ispressed down by the rear portion of the carriage to permit this rearwardmovement. When the carriage returns under pull of spring 47 to theposition shown, for example, in FIG. 8 the stop S will spring up toprevent the rear part of the carriage from returning the whole distance.

To turn the sealing flaps in, bell crank guide arms 74, pivoted toplates 72 and 73 as shown in FIGS. 63, 7 and 12 are actuated by pistons76, 77 in cylinders 78 and 79 on frame members 59, 59. Sealing rollers80 and 81 on arms 74 and 75 press pressure sensitive sealing flaps 48eand 481 over the adjoining side of the wrapper 48b.

As the wrapper stack is pushed back between side plates 72 and 73 andupper and lower plates 62 and 50a, sealing strips are applied to theupper and lower side edges to secure the edges of wrapper part 48b tothe edges of wrapper part 48a as shown in FIG. 6B. The side plate 72 isprovided with a lower flared corner shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, and plate73 is provided with a similar lower flared corner 85 concealed from viewin those figures. Plates 72 and 73 are provided with upper flaredcorners 87 and 88 respectively shown in FIGS. 63 and 7. These flaredcorners or horns are formed in a known manner to receive glued sealingtapes or strips 90 fed from rolls 91 in a known manner. Any type ofadhesive may be used. If it is desired to moisten the adhesive, amoistening device may be attached. Also any known means may be providedfor feeding the strips and cutting them to length. The sealing means isindicated diagrammatically since the specific means used does not formpart of this invention. Application of these sealing strips completesthe sealing of the wrapper holding it under tension and the packageunder compressron.

FIG. 8 is aperspective view showing how the wrapped package is finallydischarged from the machine. The various moveable pressure applyingplates are withdrawn, the cradles 5t and '51 are rocked back to theiroriginal positions shown in phantom lines in FIG. 13 and roller 65 israised. The upper frame has been raised to the position shown in phantomlines in FIG. 13. The carriage has also been pulled back by its springto its initial position. The rear part of the carriage has been advancedinto engagement with the forward part.

The fully wrapped and sealed package 74 is shown in FIG. 8, as beingejected from cradle 59. This is accomplished by means of a pistonsecured to plate 50a and actuated by cylinder 101 secured to bracket 102on bell crank lever 70 (See FIG. 13). When the pressure plates 51b and61 have been withdrawn the cradle 50 is rocked back by piston 69 andpiston 10% is actuated to advance the plate Stla to the position shownin phantorn lines in FIG. 13 and in full lines in FIG. 8. This ejectsthe package onto a table or conveyor 103 (in FIG. 13). The package isdeposited in the position shown in FIG. 9 with the corrugations insideengaging the stack of containers and arranged as indicated by phantomlines, i.e., the corrugations on the vertical sides are all vertical andthe corrugations on the horizontal sides run horizontally. Thisarrangement gives maximum strength to the completed package.

In describing and claiming the invention it is to be understood thatwhen reference is made to means or a plate for applying pressure to thesides of the stack, such means or plate is not necessarily actuated ormoved to apply pressure but may be fixed or normally stationary andarranged to co-operate with a movable pressure applying means or plateto compress the stack between them, in which case the fixed orstationary means or plate is deemed to be a pressure means or plate.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Method of packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers formed ofthin sheets of stiff bendable material, in a wrapper formed of panels ofpackaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the stacks when undercompression, comprising arranging said containers loosely in a stock,and then: applying substantially simultaneously pressure to all sides ofthe loosely arranged stack to cause the containers to fit snuglytogether; applying wrapper panels to the stack while compressed; andsecuring the adjoining edges of the panels to hold the package undercompression.

2. Method of packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers, formed ofthin sheets of still bendable material, in a wrapper formed of panels ofpackaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the stack when undercompression, comprising arranging said containers loosely in a stack,and then: applying substantially simultaneously pressure to all sides ofthe loosely arranged stack to cause the containers to fit snuglytogether; releasing the pressure on opposite sides of the stacksuccessively to apply wrapper panels to the sides of the stack whilemaintaining the stack under compressi-on; reapplying pressure afterapplying said panels; and securing the adjoining edges of the panels tohold the package under compression.

3. Method of packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers, formed ofthin sheets of stiff bendable material, in a wrapper formed of panels ofpackaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the stack when undercompression, comprising arranging said containers loosely in a stack,and then applying substantially simultaneously pressure to all sides ofthe loosely arranged stack to cause the containers to fit snuglytogether; applying wrapper panels to at least one side of the stackprior to applying pressure to the stack; releasing pressure on oppositesides of the stack successively to apply wrapper panels to the otherside of the stack while maintaining the stack under compression;reapplying pressure after applying said panels; and securing theadjoining edges of the panels to hold the package under compression.

4. Method of packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers formed ofthin sheets of stiff 'bendable material, in a Wrapper formed of panelsof packaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the stack undercompression, whereby some of the panels are hingedly connected toothers, comprising arranging said containers loosely in a stack, andthen applying a wrapper panel to at least one side of the stack prior toapplying pressure to the stack;

applying substantially simultaneously pressure to all sides of theloosely arranged stack to cause the containers to fit snugly together;releasing pressure on opposite sides of the stack successively; foldingpanels over said sides while maintaining pressure on adjacent sides ofthe s-tack; and securing the adjoining edges of the panels to hold thepackage under compression.

5. Method of packaging a stack of filled cuboid containers formed ofthin sheets of stilf bendable material, in a wrapper formed of panels ofpackaging stock preformed to the dimensions of the stacks when under compression, comprising: arranging said containers loosely in a stack, andthen applying substantially simultaneously pressure to all sides of theloosely arranged stack to cause the containers to fit snugly together;applying wrapper panels to the stack without releasing the pressure onany side; and securing the adjoining edges of the panels to hold thepackage under compression.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,903 3/1916Rehfuss et al. 53-124 1,726,927 9/ 1929 Shaffer.

2,402,476 6/1946 Weeks 53-24 2,605,897 8/1952 Rnndle 206- 2,707,5535/1955 Young 206-65 2,855,741 10/1958 Shaw et al 53-124 X 2,969,629l/1961 Blais 53-124 2,974,452 3/1961 Vogt 53-24 2,979,871 4/1961Kieckhefer 53-24 X 3,006,119 10/1961 Fingerhut 53-24 3,068,624 12/1962Linda 53-124 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, BERNARD STICKNEY,

Examiners.

W. T. DIXSON, A. E. FOURNIER, R. L. FARRIS,

Assistant Examiners.

1. METHOD OF PACKAGING A STACK OF FILLED CUBOID CONTAINERS FORMED OFTHIN SHEETS OF STIFF BENDABLE MATERIAL, IN A WRAPPER FORMED OF PANELS OFPACKAGING STOCK PREFORMED TO THE DIMENSIONS OF THE STACKS WHEN UNDERCOMPRESSION, COMPRISING ARRANGING SAID CONTAINERS LOOSELY IN A STOCK,AND THEN: APPLYING SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESSURE TO ALL SIDES OFTHE LOOSELY ARRANGED STACK TO CAUSE THE CONTAINERS TO FIT SNUGLYTOGETHER; APPLYING WRAPPER PANELS TO THE STACK WHILE COMPRESSED; ANDSECURING THE ADJOINING EDGES OF THE PANELS TO HOLD THE PACKAGE UNDERCOMPRESSION.